Aria's POV
Damon's fingers tightened around mine, and his gaze searched mine. "You're certain?"
I nodded. "I am only choosing you right now because I'm out of better options."
He remained silent.
"The prior bond gives us the highest success rate. That's the only reason."
He held my gaze for a long second. Then he nodded once, sharply.
"Then we do it tonight."
I mated with Damon that night and came back to myself in fragments by morning.
I woke first to the weight of his arm draped across my waist. Then came the slow, steady thump of his heart against my spine.
Finally, I noticed the absence of pain. The jagged, tearing instability that had been gnawing through my bloodline for the longest time was simply... gone.
My power sat quiet and obedient inside me, like a blade finally she
